In this report, the authors provide a review of how the community services sector has been positioned by major governing bodies, including the Productivity Commission, Royal Commissions and Senate Inquiries. The aim of the review is to provide insight into how the sector is being understood and approached by government(s) and to identify key themes that have emerged in successive inquiries.

The review takes in the time period of 2008-to present, in order to track developments since the last concentrated effort at sector reinvigoration by the commonwealth government. Over forty reports and inquiries were searched thematically for discussion of social service provision. Discussion and recommendations regarding the community services sector were concentrated around four themes:

1. Joined-up and integrated working
2. Competition and contestability
3. Government as steward
4. Workforce reform